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Ai sat beside her parents in the throne room as King Johin walked in, followed by the five who had been with him the previous day. There were several nobles gathered there, including Lord Whall and Lord Raine.
"Well, King Johin, may I assume that you know the reason why we have gathered and requested your presence?"
"I believe so, Your Majesty. News has just reached me that an army from my kingdom is at your borders. May I assure you that they mean your kingdom no harm but have only come to seek me."
"I assume they would know better than to foolishly launch an attack on us when their king is within our borders. You may rest easy, for I have sent out my soldiers to lead them to the palace. Since they are at the Northern borders, which is not much of a distance to the palace, I believe they shall be here soon. Please, you may sit whilst we await your men."
Ai watched as the younger king did as he was told. He then turned his amused gaze from her father to herself, where it rested in open admiration. She immediately looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
In a bid to draw his attention away from herself, she spoke the first thought that came to mind. “Father, whilst we await the men from the borders, may I ask what these rumours are that were spread about me before the ball?” The words were out before she could consider its consequences, but the look on her father’s face was enough to know she had made an error.
“How did you come to know about the rumours, Ai?” Her father questioned in a futile effort to mask his pain. Ai blinked, unable to speak. She had asked it partly because she wanted a distraction from Johin’s gaze but also because she wished him to know that she was not as undesirable as she had seemed in the ballroom. However, with further thoughts on the matter, she realised how bad it made her kingdom look.
“Yes, Your Majesty, I have been meaning to speak on the subject since after the ball but have not had the opportunity. Since the princess has brought it up, we may very well discuss it.” A noble said before the princess could think of a way to change the subject.
“I agree,” Another noble shouted. “When your majesty announced your desire to give our dear princess to be wed to an eligible bachelor in the Kingdom, it was of great joy to me. I was certain that my dear son would be the first to make known his suit."
Ai stared at the middle-aged man as he spoke, realising that the issue was about to be bigger than she expected, and it was out of her power to stop it. She felt her heartbeat increase with mortification as she wondered if she had disappointed her father.
"My son is well known for all the gifts and talents he possesses, and his beauty is only an added advantage to his eligibility. I am quite certain the princess would find him an agreeable young man," another nobleman stated.
"Even I cannot express the joy my son had when I told him about your announcement, as he began to prepare for the moment when he would finally make his suit known to the princess." A different nobleman spoke. "However, when that evil news began to spread, my Madame became concerned."
"Pray tell sir, what is this horrendous news you speak of?" Ai asked, and the entire room went silent. She could sense her father looking apprehensively in her direction, but she was too curious to cease her inquiry.
"The rumour, princess, was eh..." The man stuttered and went silent. Since she had first heard Duke Whall speak of the rumours, she had no time to consider the possible contents of the rumour. Although she had been determined to get to the bottom of the matter, she had chosen the worst time to speak of it and wished she had not brought it up in the presence of Johin.
"The rumours have variations, but it was implied that the Prophet told his majesty, that a deadly curse shall befall the family of whosoever shall wed you, your Highness." Lord Raine answered bluntly when no one else spoke.
Ai turned to her parents with a questioning look, but both averted their gazes. She turned to prophet Asher with a questioning gaze trying to ascertain if he had truly declared such a thing. The old man simply shook his head. She turned again to Lord Raine, who was scowling at her like she was a nuisance.
"And from whence has this rumour begun, sir?" Ai questioned, unsure if his disapproving look stemmed from the fact that she brought the matter up in the presence of foreigners, or guilt because he was the perpetrator. She watched him shift uncomfortably, as her tone held apparent accusation.
"Ahem..." The flustered noble coughed. For the first time since she had known him, he seemed unable to meet her eyes. "On the eve of the ball, anonymous letters containing the rumour were sent to the wives of several high-ranking nobles and some foreign guests.”
Ai was perplexed at this revelation but did her best to maintain a calm disposition. "And to what end was this gossip spread, sir?" She was unable to fathom why anyone was so invested in destroying her honour that they would go as far as spreading such falsities.
"The answer to your question, your Highness, lies in the mind of the one who orchestrated such plans. My family was not privy to this information, for we did not receive the letter, and I never lend my ears to silly gossip. I have only heard of it from His Majesty."
“You will pardon me, sir, for you appeared to know all the details. Besides, I find it incredible that your family alone did not receive the letter.”
The man opened his mouth in shock and turned to the king as though questioning why he was allowing her authority to champion the meeting. Ai, seeing the guilt-ridden look on her father’s face, knew he would not be stopping her.
She turned from him to Lord Whall who was sitting with a solemn look. He caught her gaze and offered her a small smile, but she could see the sadness in his eyes. He was the only one who had felt the need to tell the king. If he had not done so, the matter might never have been brought up. She was thankful to him but knew she could not offer him her thanks, as that would mean her admitting to eavesdropping.
After some moments of silence in the room, Ai turned to the noble who had been speaking before Lord Raine. "You may continue.”
"Yes, Your Highness. Despite the news, my son wished to come forward, but my wife made him vow that he would do no such thing. I should have commanded..."
The man’s voice faded amidst her inward reflections. She tried to comprehend how dire the situation was and vaguely noticed when other nobles rose and gave similar opinions, speaking in favour of their children, or even themselves. Overwhelmed by all she was hearing, she desired to be away from the throne room and in her secret place, where she could hide from the feeling of being so unwanted.
At some point, the throne room became rowdy as almost every noble present had something to say and only a few noticed when the King lifted his hand to stop them.
"Silence!" The booming voice of Lord Raine echoed through the throne room, and Ai was startled at his outburst. "His Majesty, the King, shall address us."
The princess frowned at the man with ardent irritation. Most of the nobles present were his equals and she did not like how he addressed them like they were beneath him. Her dislike for him was as great as his for her, and she suspected that he had something to do with the rumours. Nonetheless, she could admit that he got their attention and directed them to the king.
"I have heard your arguments and can attest that most are valid and compelling. However, none of you thought it wise to make this rumour known to me before I made the grievous announcement at the ball. Also, despite the rumours, none of your gallant sons were brave enough to step out.
I can confirm to you that those rumours are baseless and untrue. On the contrary, I have been told by the prophet that whosoever shall win Princess Ai’s heart shall be blessed and favoured. I have also vowed never to put my dear child through such an ordeal again. Hence, the choice of who to court and eventually wed shall solely be made by the princess. That is, with the blessing of the Prophet, of course." The King’s irrefutable declaration stunned the entire room into a moment of silence.
At that moment, an Ore soldier announced that a dozen, out of the hundred men who had come seeking the Bamish king, had been allowed to enter the palace.
"Bring them to me." King James commanded, and the men were swiftly led into the room. After paying homage to their king, they turned to offer greetings to the king of Ore.
"Good sirs, I have been informed that you are nobles of Bamah. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" King James questioned.
The group had puzzled expressions on their faces, as though questioning if he could not see the obvious. One of the men who looked like a dignified noble with his exquisite robes responded. "We have come to seek our king."
“Shall we say he was lost then?" King James asked comically.
"Well, er... I shall not say he was, sir..." The man started.
"You shall address our King as ‘Your Majesty!’" Lord Raine thundered with evident anger.
Although a noble of Bamah, the man seemed intimidated by Lord Raine’s’ fury. His attitude and lack of manners, even towards guests, annoyed the princess greatly, and she did all to constrain herself from putting him in his place. Since she had earlier embarrassed her kingdom, she did not wish to do any further harm by giving the man an unrestrained piece of her mind.
"My sincere apologies, your Majesty, I meant no dishonour.” The Bamish noble said sheepishly, looking warily from Lord Raine to the King of Ore. He went on to express that there were pressing issues in Bamah that king Johin needed to attend to, as he had been out of the kingdom for almost two weeks.
"What shall you say to this, young king?" King James questioned. "It appears you have some urgent business and shall be unable to continue courtship with my daughter."
Again, the noble stepped forward and spoke. "Forgive my imprudence, your Majesty. The royal advisors of Bamah have requested, if your majesty would permit it, that the princess return with us to Bamah. We are aware of our king’s declaration to the princess and shall consider her presence a diplomatic visit, where they may continue their courtship, as the King goes about his duties.”
She turned to her father and noticed his clenched jaw as he frowned at the Bamish noble. If looks could kill, the man would have ceased to exist in that moment.
